Signboard supporting structure



A rif27, 1965 ,5. R. HOPKINS SIGNBOARD SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: N BEN R. HOPKINS Y XJTTORNEY s wt B. R. HOPKINS SIGNBOARD SUPPORTING STRUCTURE April 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1963,

INVENTOR. BEN R. HOPKINS A TTORNE V United States Patent $12 -$596 SEGNBQARD SUPPQRTENG TRUCTURIE lien R. Hopkins, 5M7 El Adobe Lane, Ilia Qrescenta, Calif. Filed Mar. 29, 1%3, Ser. No. 268,955 4 Claims. (*Cl. 243-423) The invention relates to display signboards such as those placed along highways, and more particularly to support structure for such display boards.

' In a highly competitive field such as outdoor commercial advertising the cost of the structures to which the actual display board is attached is of utmost importance. Installation costs are also a factor in the commercial success of a particular signboard design. The over-all appearance of both the structure and the signboard helps determine the rental value of the display. Because of the display area against which wind pressures are exerted on a typical signboard, structural strength is an essential in any signboard support structure. A signboard of exceptional strength for the amount of material therein is set forth in my U.S. Patent No. 3,010,234 issued November 28, 1961 and entitled Supported Vertical Display Panels. I have now invented a signboard also including a horizontal cylindrical tube and having means for supporting a horizontal tube in fixed relationship to the vertical support therefor. The invention contemplates, in a signboard having a vertical display surface supported from a horizontal torque tube, the combination that comprises a key on the torque tube, a vertical support, a saddle on the support, and a saddle surface adapted to engage the key extending parallel to the horizontal torque tube. The key is fixed to the horizontal torque tube and preferably extends the horizontal length of the torque tube. Means adapted to secure the horizontal torque tube with respect to the saddle cause engagement of the key and the saddle surface to preclude rotation of the tube with respect to the saddle.

The apparatus described has many advantages, including that of being capable of fabrication at a site remote from the installation site. ()nce the vertical support is fixed in position, the display board supported by the horizontal torque tube may be hoisted into place, the key of the torque tube engaged with the saddle and the securing means then manipulated to insure positive engagement between the key and the saddle. Because the key extends substantially the length of the horizontal torque tube, the entire display board may be shifted with respect to the vertical support without any necessity of changing the orientation of that member. Depending uponthe size of the display surface and its support requirements, one or more vertical supports may be used. Because of the advantages in cylindrical tube construction pointed out in the above mentioned US. Patent No. 3,010,234, the torque tube may be positioned to extend assymetrically in cantilever fashion beyond one side or the other of the vertical support.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the vertical support comprises a central vertical torque tube from which a pair of opposed ribs extend. The ribs are coextensive with the torque tube, extending oppositely from the outer wall thereof. An outer flange on each rib is coextensive therewith and perpendicular to the respective rib. A plurality of spaced stiffeners extend from the central torque tube to the flange on either side of the ribs. The tube, ribs, flanges and stitfeners are fixed together to form an integral structural member. 1

One advantage of the preferred structural member is that the resolution of forces within the member is such that highgrade steel need only be used in the outer flanges, since high stresses result in that area, While milder steel grasses Fatenteel 2?, 1965 "Ice i may be used in the central tube without depriving that component of the advantages it affords in torque. This combination of materials results in a rigid, economical structural member. The utility of this structural member is not limited to signboard supports. The member may also be used as a bridge stringer, or a pipe bridge with a liquid flow through the central tube. It may also be used as a horizontal cantilever member.

These and other advantages of the invention are apparent in the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a signboard in accordance with the invention;

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged detail of the area 3A3A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to FIG. 3 and illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG; 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a further alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the preferred vertical support of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the sup port of FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are transverse cross-sectional views of alternate embodiments of the vertical structural member.

FIG. 1 illustrates fragmentarily a display signboard designated generally by the reference numeral ll that has a supported display panel 13 which is fixed in conventional fashion to vertical supports i l, 15. The vertical supports are attached to support pads 1'7, 18 upon the upper surface of a horizontal cylindrical torque tube 19. The bottom of torque tube 19 has affixed thereto an elongate key 21, best seen in FIG. 3. The key is preferably square, and continuously welded to the periphery of the horizontal torque tube, such that one of its across-corner lines is vertical. Such key orientation affords more surface for a secure continuous weld. In this orientation the key has converging surfaces 23, 24- that contact the sides 25, 26, respectively, of a notch 27 extending across the bottom of a semi-cylindrical saddle member 29 fixed to the top of a vertical support 31. The vertical support may be fixed in conventional fashion within a concrete pour 33 below the level of the supporting ground 34-. Means other than a concrete pour may be used to fix the verticalsupport at its lower end.

The position of the horizontal torque tube with respect to the vertical support is maintained by a semi-cylindrical saddle cap 35. The cap has extending tabs 37, 38 through which conventional bolts extend and secure the saddle cap to comparable tabs 41, 42 of the saddle. Referring to FIG. 3A, it can be seen that saddle 29 comprises two arcuate members 29A, 293 having beveled ends 25, 26. The key of the horizontal torque tube registers againts these beveled ends. A slight gap exists between the vertical continuation of the downward surface of the saddle components. This gap receives the converging lower edge of the two key surfaces 23, 24. In a horizontal torque tube having an outside diameter of approximately ten inches the gap is approximately A of an inch.

structurally, the saddle is directly supported upon a cutout 45 of a central cylindrical torque tube 47 of the vertical support. The central torque tube extends from the saddle to a ground plate 4-8. Continuous welds to both the saddle and the ground plate are preferable.

A pair of opposed ribs 51, 52 extend from opposite 3 sides of the central torque tube. Preferably the ribs are continuous from the tabs of the saddle to ground plate 48. An outer flange 54 is aflixed to the outer edge of rib 51 and alike outer flange 55 is aflixedto rib 52. A plurality of stiflencrs 57 are preferably welded in spaced relationship upon one face of each rib and extend from central tube 47 to the flanges 55, 54. A second plurality of stitfeners 50 are fixed to the opposite face of each rib. The stifleners are preferably aligned horizontally at intervals along the vertical extent of the ribs. The vertical spacing of the stitfeners is dependent upon the designed loading of the vertical member and may vary from four feet to twelve feet.

As stated before, the central tube, the ribs, flanges and stifleners are fastened together preferably by continuous welding to form a unitary structure. The saddle also becomes a part of this structure when the member is used to support the horizontal torque tube of a signboard.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein a semi-cylindrical saddle 61 is supported upon a vertical support 63 that is substantially the same as that described for the previous embodiment. Saddle 61 has a continuous cylindrical member 64 fixed tothe vertical support so that it opens upwardly. Side tabs 66 and 67 are fixed t the semi-cylindrical member to extend horizontally from each upper edge thereof. .A horizontal torque tube 69 resides within the saddle. The hexagonal longitudinal key 71 is fixed along the outer periphery of the horizontal torque tube. Coincident with the horizontal center line thereof, one flat of the key rests upon saddle flange 67. The opposite flat of the key is borne upon by a flange 73 of a saddle cap 75. A sec ond saddle cap flange 76 rests upon tab 66 of the saddle. The saddle and saddle cap tabs are secured together by conventional bolt, nut and washer assemblies 78. Opera- 'tionally the saddle and key arrangement of the embodi:

merit of FIG. 4 is substantially the same as for the previously described embodiment and the mechanical advantages inherent in the one embodiment are present in the other. However, the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 has the advantage that placement of saddle and saddle cap flanges may be symmetrical from left to right.

The embodiment of FIG. has a vertical support 63 like that of the embodiment of FIG. 4. Torque tube 69 is also similar as are the key 71 and the saddle .61 and saddle cap 75. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the signboard vertical support 14 is uniquely secured to the torque tube. Support 14 is fixed to a semi-cylindrical upper saddle member 81 having flanges 83. A like lower saddle member 84 has flanges 86 aflixed to extend horizontally therefrom. Flanges 183, 86 of the upper and lower saddle members abut against opposite faces of hexagonal key71 and, when bolted in place, preclude relative rotation between the saddle members and horizontal torque tube 69. V

The key 71 extends for substantially the entire length of the torque tube. Therefore, positioning of supports 14 is without limitations horizontally. This is also true for all embodiments with regard to placement of the horizontal torque tube with respect to the vertical sup port. In fact, this orientation may be changed on assembly merely by loosening the bolts, such as of bolt as semblies 78, and shifting by appropriate means the entire display board and its supporting horizontal tube within the collar formed by the saddle and the saddle cap. This operation can be accomplished without disengaging the key from its relationship to the saddle.

In FIG. 6 the preferred vertical support of the invention is shown fragmentarily in perspective. Central torque tube 47 is secured as by welding to the two arcuate segments 29A, 29B of the saddle. Ribs 51, 52 extend upwardly from the ground plate to the under side of the saddle tab 42. Rib flanges 54, 55 are secured to the outer edge 91 of each rib and may be bent inwardly near their tops in sloping sections 93 to be joined to the outer edge of tabs 42, which do not extend as far from the vertical center line of the structural member as do the ribs. Stifleners 57, 53, extending from the central tube to the outer rib are secured to faces of each rib in mutual alignment. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the notch 21 extends axially of the semi-cylindrical saddle. V

A transverse cross-section of an embodiment similar to FiG. 6 is shown in FIG. 7. There the stiffeners 57, 58 are shown as being of a lesser width at their juncture with the tube than at theirjuncture with the flange. Since the continuous welding process makes a bond as strong or stronger than the welded materials, the vertical support has been shown in FIG. 7 as an integral member. In practice, the structural member may comprise a cylindrical tube 47 and opposed vertical Ts 95 welded at their Web base to the tube. The gussets or stiffeners 57, 58 may then be welded in place to the T and the tube, as described previously. v

In FIG. 8 an alternative fabrication method is illustrated. A central tube 47 comprises the center portion of a structural member 09 which further comprises longitudinal ribs 101 welded to the tube, and longitudinal flanges 102 continuously welded to the outer edges of the ribs. Stiffeners 103, 104 may then be welded in place along the extent of each rib. V In FIG. 9 a structural member 105 comprises a pair of preferably extruded shapes 106, 1045A, each having a semi-cylindrical central portion 107, extending ribs 108 protruding in opposite directions and flanges 109 perpendicular to the ribs. The two halves are joined as by Welding so that a cylindrical hollow 111 extends continuously from end to end of the structural member. Stifleners similar to those in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 may also be combined with the ribs and flanges.

The presently preferred fabrication method is to utilize T sections welded to the central torque tube with stilfeners added, as shown in FIG. 7. In such a structural member high grade steel may be used for the Ts while a milder, and therefore more economicahsteel may be used for the central tube.

A structural member made in accordance with the disclosure of FIG. 8 may be designed so that the core has a yield strength of 33,000 pounds, while the ribs and flanges have, respectively, yield strengths of 36,000 and 90,000 pounds.

These strength factors are the result of structural memher design calculated to give maximum beam strength transversely of the vertical member from flange to flange. This strength factor would be the critical one when the vertical support is utilized for a signboard which must resist very heavy wind loadings. The extent of the flanges in such a situation is parallel to the surface upon which wind pressures impinge.

The structural member is torsionally rigid because its center has the configuration of a torque tube. Both lateral and rotational stability exist because the flanges in compression transmit forces through the stiffener plates to the torque tube.

The invention affords a signboard that may be prefabricated, assembled at the site, and adjusted with respect to the previously installed vertical support or supports without the necessity of changing any component parts. Because of the keyed structural assembly, wind loadings are transferred to the vertical supports without the requirement of uneconomical conventional fa'stenings. Those skilled in the art will perceive the many structural variations afforded by the scope of the invention. Therefore, I wish the invention to be measured by the appended claims rather than by the illustrative embodiments shown and described herein.

I claim: 7

1. In a signboard having a vertical display surface rising from an elevated horizontal torque tube the combination comprising a vertical supporting cylindrical torque tube,

a pair of opposed vertical ribs fixed to and extending the height of the vertical tube along diametrically opposed peripheral lines,

a flange fixed to the outer edge of each rib and coextensive therewith,

a plurality of stiffeners fixed at vertical intervals to each side of each rib and extending from vertical tube to flange and aflixed thereto;

a saddle secured to the top of the tube and fixed to the ribs and the flanges,

a notch in the saddle,

a key protruding from the horizontal torque tube and extending substantially the horizontal length thereof; and

means adapted to secure the horizontal torque tube against displacement from the saddle and to force the key into engagement with the notch to preclude rotation of the horizontal torque tube with respect to the saddle.

2. A structural member comprising a central cylindrical torque tube,

a pair of opposed ribs coextensive with the tube and extending oppositely from the outer wall thereof, I

a flange on each rib coextensive therewith, the flange being perpendicular to the respective rib; and

a plurality of spaced stiffeners extending from the central torque tube to the flange on either side of the ribs;

the tube, ribs, flanges and stifieners being fixed together to form an integral member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the material strength of the flange on each rib exceeds the material strength of the cylindrical torque tube.

4. In a signboard having a vertical display surface supported from a horizontal torque tube the combination comprising a vertical supporting cylindrical torque tube a pair of opposed vertical ribs fixed to and extending the height of the vertical tube along diametrically opposed peripheral lines,

a flange fixed to the outer edge of each rib and coextensive therewith,

a plurality of stiffeners fixed at vertical intervals to each side of each rib and extending from vertical tube to flange and afiixed thereto;

a key fixed to the horizontal torque tube and extending continuously a substantial distance along the horizontal length thereof,

a first torque tube saddle component fixed to the vertical supporting tube and having a surface adapted to engage the key,

a second torque tube saddle component,

means operative wtih the first and second torque tube saddle components adapted to secure the horizontal torque tube with respect to the first torque tube saddle component so as to engage mutually the key and the tube saddle component to preclude rotation of the tube with respect to the saddle components,

a plurality of vertical display surface supports,

a first display surface support saddle for each support,

a second display surface support saddle for each support,

key-engaging means on each support saddle, and

fastening means connecting the first and the second support saddles of each support to bring the keyengaging means thereof into registry with the key so as to secure the saddles to the horizontal torque tube and preclude rotation of the saddles wtih re-' spect to the torque tube, said vertical display surface support being rigidly fixed to said first support saddle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,370,893 3/21 Komarek 287-53 1,424,687 8/22 Stearns 248-230 2,774,386 12/56 Formenti 189--4l 3,010,234 11/61 Hopkins 40145 OTHER REFERENCES Structural Design in Metals, 2nd ed., 1957.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SIGNBOARD HAVING A VERTICAL DISPLAY SURFACE RISING FROM AN ELEVATED HORIZONTAL TORQUE TUBE THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A VERTICAL SUPPORTING CYLINDRICAL TORQUE TUBE, A PAIR OF OPPOSED VERTICAL RIBS FIXED TO AND EXTENDING THE HEIGHT OF THE VERTICAL TUBE ALONG DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED PERIPHERAL LINES, A FLANGE FIXED TO THE OUTER EDGE OF EACH RIB AND COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH, A PLURALITY OF STIFFENERS FIXED AT VERTICAL INTERVALS TO EACH SIDE OF EACH RIB AND EXTENDING FROM VERTICAL TUBE TO FLANGE AND AFFIXED THERETO; A SADDLE SECURED TO THE TOP OF THE TUBE AND FIXED TO THE RIBS AND THE FLANGES, 